The current team is good enough to make some noise have a solid record and make the playoffs, just need to patch the PF spot and back up PG spot and we should be good, Pietrus waived, Klieza Amnestied.

The current team is good enough to make some noise have a solid record and make the playoffs, just need to patch the PF spot and back up PG spot and we should be good, Pietrus waived, Klieza Amnestied.

Assets to trade

Bargnani
Anderson
Fields*
Lucas
Acy

We also need a coach who doesn't take three-quarters of a season to determine what his rotation is....

The current team is good enough to make some noise have a solid record and make the playoffs, just need to patch the PF spot and back up PG spot and we should be good, Pietrus waived, Klieza Amnestied.

Assets to trade

Bargnani
Anderson
Fields*
Lucas
Acy

Why do I keep seeing "Anderson is a trade asset" things? He is an unrestricted FA of little value. If the team wanted to match any offer he got, other teams won't care. They'll just move on to another depth wing, of which there are too many to count, if he refuses to sign without a sign-and-trade to help the Raps. THey're not going to get into a bidding war or give up other assets for him.

Why do I keep seeing "Anderson is a trade asset" things? He is an unrestricted FA of little value. If the team wanted to match any offer he got, other teams won't care. They'll just move on to another depth wing, of which there are too many to count, if he refuses to sign without a sign-and-trade to help the Raps. THey're not going to get into a bidding war or give up other assets for him.

For that matter, Lucas isn't trade bait either. If the Raps don't want him back, they don't have to pickup their team option on him. They also can't trade him without picking up the option. Is Acy really trade bait, or does he just happen to be under contract?

I don't think Fields is overly desired, due to his bloated poison-pill contract. Bargnani will likely return a contract that is equally bad or worse. DeRozan is the only asset that I think has any legitimate trade value, especially for a top-tier quality player.

DeRozan is a good young player, but he's overpaid and the team can't afford to have 2 inefficient volume scorers (Gay is the one to keep) on the roster, especially in the starting lineup. He's also the team's best best to acquire a legit starting PF with a traditional low-post presence, which is the most glaring hole on this roster right now.

The current team is good enough to make some noise have a solid record and make the playoffs, just need to patch the PF spot and back up PG spot and we should be good, Pietrus waived, Klieza Amnestied.

Assets to trade

Bargnani
Anderson
Fields*
Lucas
Acy

That's an extremely optimistic outlook for a 23-38 team.

I don't see any of those players as bringing back anything of value other than maybe Bargs.

For that matter, Lucas isn't trade bait either. If the Raps don't want him back, they don't have to pickup their team option on him. They also can't trade him without picking up the option. Is Acy really trade bait, or does he just happen to be under contract?

I don't think Fields is overly desired, due to his bloated poison-pill contract. Bargnani will likely return a contract that is equally bad or worse. DeRozan is the only asset that I think has any legitimate trade value, especially for a top-tier quality player.

Yeah, basically....
Bargnani = expendable and has to go
Fields = unfortunate contract, may not have trade value until teams see some kind of turnaround in his jumper or until his expiring year
Demar, and Ross = Both somewhat untouchable in different ways. Trading either one would have to at worst, be a lateral talent move that hopefully results in better fit... I wouldn't do a Millsap for Demar trade, but I understand the merit in the argument for it. Similar for Ross. I understand people wanting to be rid of Bargs, even if they need to attach Ross to Bargs to get a deal done...but even in that scenario, it can't be just to help the team unload Bargs, and should only be considered if it lands them a legit starter in his prime, at the very least, again, like a Millsap. Just like with Demar, I wouldn't be in a rush to get rid of Ross even in such a package, but it's the minimum kind of sense any deal would have to make. Frankly, as much as I like Millsap, I would have a hard time as a fan seeing either guy go for anything less than a legit all-star, or a young high potential prospect at another position, like PF or PG. Draft day trade for Anthony Bennett ? mid season trade for Eric Bledsoe?? half kidding on these...but these are the kinds of young players I would want for Terrence Ross. Maybe I'm being irrationally greedy, but given the new CBA outlook, I'd be hesitant to part iwth a high-potential player on a rookie-scale deal without getting something similar back, or a proven talent that I'd like to be all-star/playoff proven.

I disagree with this. The injuries seemed to be a blessing in disguise. This team was spiralling out of control before Lowry and Bargnani went down. It wasn't until Davis/Amir got pumped up minutes and Calderon took over the offense that the team started to improve.

If we started the season with the current team and didnt have Bargs yes I do think we would be talking playoffs.. It isnt a stretch at all.

We'll never know. But they are now at .500 (or below?) since the Gay deal and things seem to be unravelling rather than getting better. Next year? Who knows? Lots can happen in the offseason with other teams getting better. There are just too many flaws with this team to be confident in this roster.

I disagree with this. The injuries seemed to be a blessing in disguise. This team was spiralling out of control before Lowry and Bargnani went down. It wasn't until Davis/Amir got pumped up minutes and Calderon took over the offense that the team started to improve.

Hmmmm. You are correct in a sense, I did not consider the Davis getting PT, and the winning streaks...

I noticed how unlike himself he looked in the 2 games vs. the Raps. Amar'e might have one of the only contracts in the league worse than Bargs (might, it's certainly debatable).

Actually I would take a chance on Amare because it looks like he is starting to get healthy and is rounding into shape. He can provide the low post scoring we need as well. Basically we don't have many options to improve the roster and if it was between trading Bargs for Amare or Boozer I would take a chance on Amare. He could be our David West.

Actually I would take a chance on Amare because it looks like he is starting to get healthy and is rounding into shape. He can provide the low post scoring we need as well. Basically we don't have many options to improve the roster and if it was between trading Bargs for Amare or Boozer I would take a chance on Amare. He could be our David West.

Amare is owed about $13 million more than Boozer over the next 2 seasons, so we'd have to give up more than just Bargnani and Lucas to make the salaries match.

Seriously, I would just try to sign Carl Landry for the MLE before taking Amar'e. Don't need those broken knees with a high price, and they actually play very similar roles off the bench.

Don't know if Landry is worth more/less the MLE, but if we can't get a power forward/inside presence with trading Bargnani + wing player (Fields, Ross, Derozan), than I say trade Bargnani to a contender for those surrounding pieces, I would be fine with that.

Don't know if Landry is worth more/less the MLE, but if we can't get a power forward/inside presence with trading Bargnani + wing player (Fields, Ross, Derozan), than I say trade Bargnani to a contender for those surrounding pieces, I would be fine with that.

His player option is for 4 million next year...I'm pretty sure a big who's averaged 12 and 5 his whole career, and is a solid bench weapon, could make more htan that. It might not even have to be the full MLE to sign him and it could still be a payraise. There will not be a lot of great bigs on the market if they can't get one back in a Bargs deal.

He could decide not to opt out, but that's something I obviously have no clue on either way. Again, IMO it just seems like he could make even just a bit more if he hit the market.